One Hundred World's Best Novels Condensed

David Copperfield to Quo Vadis, Don Quixote to The War of the Worlds — a hundred of the world's great novels, each condensed to a brisk summary with its author's life story, as read in 1919.

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The Pilgrim's Progress: Faithful

Having passed through this valley, he came up with his friend Faithful, who had, though Christian knew it not, followed him out of the City of Destruction. Then was there much discourse between the two pilgrims as to the perils through which they had come, with Faithful telling of his escape from Madame Wanton, as well as from the old man with the three daughters, the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life. Also did Faithful tell of his encounters with Arrogancy, Pride, and Worldlyglory. But the worst of them all was with Shame, a bold-faced fellow who would never have done speaking against all good men and things.

Then I saw in my dream that they presently came to the town of Vanity, where is a fair kept called Vanity Fair. Here is there at all times such noise and folly, with the buying and selling of such foolish wares as have given the town its fame. The people of the fair, taking the pilgrims for outlandish men and bedlams, made a great gazing at them. Likewise were they not a little amused that Christian and Faithful, setting very light by all their merchandise, did speak exhortingly. Much hubbub did follow thereon, during which the pilgrims were cast into jail. At a convenient time they were brought forth to trial before the Lord Hategood, witness being given against them by such base fellows as Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank. Among the jurors were Mr. Nogood, Mr. Malice, Mr. Lovelust, and such like, by whom good Faithful was condemned. After much persecution they burned him to ashes at the stake, whereat I saw in my dream that a chariot with horses carried him up to the Celestial Gate by the nearest way.

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